Tory Brexiteer starts 2019 as he means to go on - by getting cross about fireworks

Written by Total Politics on 2 January 2019 in Diary

Diary

Andrew Bridgen's latest intervention suggests that anyone hoping for a more civil 2019 in politics might be out of luck.

Tory Brexiteer Andrew Brigden accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of "politicising" the capital's New Year celebrations after the London Eye was lit up like the flag of the European Union in a pretty obvious dig at Britain's bid to leave the bloc.

More than 100,000 revellers saw in the New Year at the capital's official celebration along the banks of the Thames.

In a world-class bit of trolling, Khan decided to centre the festivities on the theme 'London is Open' - with the key phrase spoken in seven different European languages just after midnight.

Tonight's spectacular #LondonNYE fireworks showed that whatever the outcome of Brexit - #LondonIsOpen - to business, to talent, to ideas, to creativity - and why London really is the greatest city in the world.

Just in case that didn't hammer home the point, the London Eye big wheel was briefly lit up in the familiar blue and yellow colours of the EU's flag, while songs chosen for the soundtrack included 'Don’t Leave Me Alone', 'We Are Your Friends' and 'Stay'. Subtle stuff...

Khan said he wanted to challenge an "insular inward-looking" impression of Britain.

But that got Bridgen's blood boiling, as the Conservative eurosceptic made it clear that one man's message of solidarity is another's "betrayal of democracy".

He told the Sun: "It’s low, it’s very low to politicise what is an international public event.

“It’s a betrayal of democracy and it’s what we have come to expect from a very poor mayor of London.

“Over three million EU citizens have decided to make the UK their home despite Brexit.

"I wish all our politicians had as much confidence in post-Brexit Britain as these people."